Swimming Water Quality Monitoring

Swimming Water Quality Monitoring

The City of Gulf Shores partners with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) and the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) to routinely monitor bacteria levels at the three major public beach locations within the city – Gulf Shores Public Beach, Gulf State Park Pavilion Beach and Little Lagoon Pass.

This proactive monitoring program has bolstered the Gulf Shores Public Beach and the Gulf State Park Pavilion Beach to receive national recognition by the Natural Resources Defense Council's annual water quality report as two of the nation's "Superstar Beaches" for 2012, 2013 and 2014.

The ADEM/ADPH Coastal Alabama Beach Monitoring Program utilizes a three tiered color coded water quality status system to help the public make a more informed decision concerning water quality and risk of illness associated with swimming. Swimming water quality signs (pictured) reflecting the latest monitoring results are posted at each of the monitored beach locations within Gulf Shores.

GREENSTATUS
Indicates that, based on the most recent test, water quality is acceptable. Enterococci levels were at or below the EPA threshold of 104 colonies per 100 ml of water.
YELLOW STATUS
Indicates the most recent test results for a given site exceeded the EPA threshold of 104 Enterococci colonies per 100 ml of water. There may be an increased risk of illness associated with swimming in such water. Because elevated bacteria levels are often transient and usually fall quickly, these sites undergo immediate retesting. The yellow status will be revised to red or green based on the results of the retest.

RED STATUS
Indicates that repeat testing of a site has again revealed bacteria levels over the EPA threshold of 104 Enterococci colonies per 100 ml of water. There may be an increased risk of illness associated with swimming in such water. Because elevated bacteria levels have persisted, a public health advisory has been issued.

Current Advisory Status

View the current advisory status and all recent testing results posted by the ADEM/ADPH Coastal Alabama Beach Monitoring Program for the following Gulf Shores locations:

For more information or questions regarding the monitoring program, contact the Alabama Department of Environmental Management at 251-304-1176 or the Alabama Department of Public Health at 251-947-3618.